Ventilator



March 28, 1950 MQVB. cuRLEY ETAL VENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled July 12, 1940 .Y u QQ 0U 7C B w NW w .0 M m AND JAMES KILBOUBNE,

M. B. CURLEY ETAL March 28, 1950 VENTILATOR I 2 Sheets-Shet 2 OriginalFiled July 12, 1940 [NVE/VTOQS, MoreToN B. CUBLEY i AND JAMES KILBOUQNE,

Patented Niar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

VENTILATOR Original application July 12, 1940, Serial No. 345,186.Divided and this application July 24, 1942, Serial No. 452,152

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved ventilator or blower foruse in underground mines to supply clean air at the working. faces thatare usually dead ends.

One object of the invention is to provide in a device of this class acompact light weight unit that can be readily moved from place to place.

Another object ofwthe invention is to position the switch or control ofthe motor inside a stationary part of the inner frame where it isprotected from damage and needs no individual protective casing.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the ventilator or blower;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 looking intothe inlet of the ventilator;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 4 -4,Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross section. of one of the air straightening vanes and oneblade of the impeller; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the electric switch and associated parts.

This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No.345,186, filed July 12, 1940, now U. S. Patent No. 2,323,456 of July 6,1943 for an Improvement in ;a ventilator.

The ventilator or :blower herein disclosed and claimed may be utilized:in many places where a flow of air is to be produced but for thepurpose of clarity it will be described as a blower to which a flexibletube or conduit is attached for the purpose of carrying air to a mineworking place.

In the various systems of mining employed, there is a network of haulageways, entries, air courses and rooms,- all portions of which should bewell ventilated. Theactual working places are commonly rooms, driven 01fthe entries, which advance leaving side walls or pillars for protectionagainst the roof falling. It is dilficult to change the air in thesedead end working places unless a blower or vetilator is placed in theentry, where the air is being constantly changed by a main ventilatingfan, and extend a flexible air .duct or readily extensible tubing to apoint in close proximity to the face. The blower takes clean air fromthe entry and blows it to the face which by way of displacement causesthe foul airv at the .face to flow out through the room neck into theentry where it is diluted by mixing with the clean air.

A mine has many such Working places only a relatively few of which arein use at any one time. It would be costly to provide each with anindividual ventilator; therefore any unit put to such use must becompact and of light weight so that it can be quickly and easily moved.

Referring to the drawings, the ventilator or blower comprises a housingA mounted upon a base B which may be picked up and carried or slid overthe mine floor. Inside the housing A there is mounted a motor C to whichis operatively connected the fan wheel or impeller D. A flexible tubingE may be laid to carry the flow of air produced by the ventilator to anydesired location.

The base B comprises a plate It! substantially flat on the bottom withcurved portions ll around the entire outer edge so that it may be movedby sliding. To the edges of the curved portions H is, fixed by welding,a rectangular shaped pipe frame [2 having a raised portion I3 for ahandle.

The housing A comprises a substantially cylindrical body it with anoutwardly flared inlet opening l5 and a slightly reduced outlet opening[6 to which may be attached the flexible tubing 11 by means of aclamping ring I 8. The rim 19 of the outlet Hi prevents slippage of thering it and the tubing ll should the tubing be pulled or the ventilatorbe moved. The housing A is provided with a pair of cast feet 20 at theinlet end which rest upon the base plate I!) and fixed thereto by thebolts 2|. A saddle 22 having a top shaped to fit the outside of thehousing as indicated at 23 is fixed to the opposite end of the baseplate It] as by means of the bolts 24. The outlet end of the housing I4rests in the curved portion 23 of the saddle 22 and is clamped in afixed position by means of a circular bar 25 which encircles the housingand extends through apertures in the lu s 26, 2'! of the saddle 22. Nuts28 are placed on the screw thread ends of the bar 25 to maintain thisfixed relation.

The motor C comprises a main frame including a cvlindrical body portionor section having an end bell 29 which. as shown in Fig. '3, is castintegral with the circumferentially s aced radial vanes 30 which in turnare cast integral with the housing A. The housing A. vanes 30 and themotor main frame section having end bell 29 all integral with eachother, are preferably made of an alloy comprising principally aluminum.The fixed and stationary supporting vanes are preferably airfoil shapedin cross-section as shown in Fig. 5.

While in Fig. i five of such vanes 3B are shown, the number may bevaried. The vanes 30 should be sufficient in number, however, to supportthe motor and rotary elements including the impeller D and neverthelessleave sufi1' cient space therebetween to permit free flow of air throughthe portable unit shown in Fig. 3.

The field frame 3| of the main frame of motor C is made of magneticmaterial such as cast steel, in order to have requisite strength and tocreate the proper magnetic field. As here shown the field frame Si isgenerally cylindrical and has cast integral therewith another end cell32 which may provide a complete enclosure of the rotating elements ofthe motor when said field frame 3| is attached to the end bell 29 whichhas been previously described as being cast integral with the vanes 36]and the housing I l. The field frame 3! may be secured rigidly to theend bell 29 by means of a plurality of ciroumferentially spaced screwsone of which is shown at 3| in Fig. 3. The end. bell 32 may. however, bea separate casting of aluminum alloy in the form of an open frame, fixedto the field frame Si in the same manner as the end bell 29 is fixedthereto. It is thus seen that the motor main frame is formed of twoseparable sections each including a cylindrical portion and 'an endbell.

Attached tothe inside of the outer walls of the field frame Si is aseries of field pole pieces 33. The rotor or armature B l is mountedupon an armature shaft 35 which is journaled in the ball bearings 36,37, the ball bearing 36 being carried by the end bell 32 and the ballbearing 3! being carried by the end bell 29.

The impeller D comprises a hub 39, keyed to the portion of the armatureshaft 35 that extends beyond the end bell 29, a circular flange 40 beingconnected to the hub 39 by a web 4!. On the outer periphery of theflange Ml are two relatively wide, short, impeller blades 42. In orderto obtain substantially frictionless flow of air into the housing Athere is provided a sheet metal blunt nose cowl 43 fitted to the outerperiphery of the flange All of the impeller wheel and held in positionby a relatively long screw 44 one end of which is adapted to fit a screwthreaded aperture in the end of the armature shaft 55, a lock nut 45preventing accidental displacement.

Rotation of the impeller 32 creates movement of the air in a spiral pathand it must be changed to a straight line flow to develop a highefi'iciency. The airfoil shaped arms as being designed to straighten theflow of air with a minimum frictional loss, their size, shape andposition'with respect to the impeller 82 are important. When "theimpelle'rblade 42 rotates in the direction 'of the'arrow 68 in Fig. 5,the fixed and stationary blades 30 are engaged by the spirally propelledair to straighten the air flow to the direction indicated by the arrow59.

The streamlined tail piece 16 is shaped to reduce friction loss. Itcovers the rear end of the motor C and houses the electrical switch M. Aring 48 of the tail piece 55 fits tightly over a complementary flange 58of the field frame 3! and is held in fixed relation thereto by a bolt orscrew 49 which engages a screw threaded aperture in the end bell 32. Theconstruction of the end bell 32 may be closed so as to co-act with theend bell 29 to form a complete enclosure for the rotating elements ofthe motor, in which event the end bell 32 co-acts with the tail piece(ill to form a complete enclosure for the electric switch ti However, ifthe end bell 32 is provided with the series of circumferential openingstill, the tail piece QB co-acts with the end bell 29 to form a completeenclosure for both the electric switch 47 and rotating parts of themotor. It will thus be seen that all arcing produced by operation of themotor and by operation of the switch is confined to the two separateenclosures or to the larger enclosure between the end bell 29 and tail.piece l6. Such enclosures are substantially complete notwithstanding theconnections between the motor and the source of electric power andnotwithstanding the presence of switch operating mechanism extending toan operating position outside of the housing M as shown in theaccompanying drawings. The tail piece 38 by reason of its constructionhas a plurality of functions; it is part of the mechanism for securingit rigidly to the motor frame as shown in Fig. 3; it has an exteriortapering surface for streamlining the forced current of air into theflexible tubing ii; and it substantially encloses the electric switch 41thereby confining arcing of the switch to an enclosed space andsimplifies the power connection to the. electric motor armature andfield windings. A

A rotary fan 3% is fixed to the armature shaft 35 inside the bell 29.The endbell 32 is provided with a'series of circumferentially spacedopenings indicated .at til :which permit a flow of air produced by therotary fan 38 to pass through the .motor C and over' the switch ll.

Constant circulation of the air within the motor housing prevents undueheating of the various electrical elements.

Power for operation of the motor C is sup plied through an electriccable 52 one end of which may be attached to any source of power and theother end brought through a cable clamp 53 on 'th'e'saddle 22 and into atubing 5 which extends through the housing M and into the field frame3i. An off and on switch 4'! housed within the tail piece dB isconnected in the motor circuit and maybe operated by means of the lever55 which extends through the housing I l and connects with the switchactuating devicelai' as indicated at 53. Pulling on the knob 51 throwsthe switch 41 to the on position to energize the motor, and movement inthe opposite direction throws it off.

It will be noted that the push'and pull actuating device M for operatingthe switch M is slidably journaled in a bearing 62 cast integral withthe tail piece 45. One end of the device El is necked down as indicatedat 63 and engages 'a U-shaped yoke 64 of the switch. Movement 'words, itacts as a'screw jack for removal of the enclosing tail piece lii fromthe field frame 3!.

Removal of the cotter pin fil-separates the lever 55 from the switchactuating device 6! and permits removal of the device ti together withthe tailpiece 46. Access may then be had to the motor brushes and switch41; also to fuse it for renewal of same.

Since the ventilator or blower may be used in places where particlessuificiently large to cause bending or breakage of parts may be pulledinto the inlet opening there is provided a screen attached to the inletend of the housing It by means of bolts 58.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes andmodifications in the details and arrangement of parts without depart ingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claimshereto appended, and we therefore wish not to be restricted to theprecise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what wedesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having an armature,mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a completeenclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, meanssupporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall ofsaid housing includin radially extending guide vanes formed integralwith the ventilator housing at their radial outer ends and integral withthe motor frame at their radial inner ends, an air impeller driven bysaid motor and adapted to force air through said housing and outsidesaid motor 0 past said guide vanes, a starting and stopping controllingswitch for said motor positioned adjacent said motor and within saidenclosure, and actuating mechanism for said switch extending fromoutside said ventilator housing through the forced air path andconnected to operate said controlling switch within said enclosure.

2. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having an armature,mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a completeenclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, meanssupporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall ofsaid housing including radially extending guide vanes formed integralwith the ventilator housing at their radial outer ends, an air impellerdriven by said motor and adapted to force air through said housing andoutside said motor past said guide vanes, a starting and stoppingcontrolling switch for said motor positioned adjacent said motor andwithin said enclosure, and actuating mechanism for said switch extendingfrom outside said ventilator housing through the forced air path andconnected to operate said COIl'tlOllillg switch within said enclosure.

3. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned. within said housing and having an armature,mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a completeenclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, meanssupporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall ofsaid housing including guide vanes, an air impeller driven by said motorand adapted to force air through said housing and outside said motorpast said guide vanes, a starting and stopping controlling switch forsaid motor positioned adjacent said motor and within said enclosure, andactuating mechanism for said switch extending from outside saidventilator housin through the forced air path and connected to operatesaid controlling switch within said enclosure.

i. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearlugs for the motor armature shaft, one end bell beingclosed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell,means supporting motor within and spaced from the inner wall of saidhousing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to forceair through said housing and outside said motor, means holding saidmotor field frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover together toprovide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, astart- ..g and stopping controlling switch for said motor within saidmotor enclosure and carried by said open end bell and outwardly thereofand adjacent said streamlined cover, and mechanical switch actuatingmechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path andinto the enclosure for said switch, said actuating mechanism havingmeans for operating it outside said housing thereby to control saidswitch.

5. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned "within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bellclosed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell,means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall ofhousing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to forceair through said housing outside said motor, means holding said motorfield frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover together to provide atotal enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting andstopping controlling switch for said motor within said motor enclosure,and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside saidhousing, through said air path and into the enclosure for said switch,said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside saidhousing thereby to control said switch.

6. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell beingclosed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell,means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall ofsaid housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned toforce air through said housing and outside said motor, means holdingsaid motor field frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover togetherto provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, astarting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within saidmotor enclosure and carried by said open end bell, and mechanical switchactuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through saidair path and into the enclosure for said switch, said actuatingmechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby tocontrol said switch.

7. In a ventilator, the combination with a Ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned Within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell beingopen, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting saidmotor within and spaced from the inner Wall of said housing, an airimpeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through saidhousing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor fieldframe and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the fieldand armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switchfor said motor within said enclosure and carried by said one end bell, afan on said armature shaft inside said enclosure for circulating airwithin said enclosure and over said motor field and armature and saidcontrolling switch, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extendingfrom outside said housing, through said air path and into saidenclosure, said actuating mechanism having means for operating itoutside said housing thereby to control said switch.

8. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell beingopen, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting saidmotor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an airimpeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through saidhousing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor field.frame and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the fieldand armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switchfor said motor within said enclosure,

fan on said armature shaft inside said enclosure for circulating airwithin said enclosure and over said motor field and armature and saidcontrolling switch, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extendingfrom outside said housing, through said air path and into saidenclosure, said actuating mechanism having means for operating itoutside said housing thereby to control said switch.

9. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of anelectric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor fieldframe and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frameand supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell beingopen, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting saidmotor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an airimpeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through saidhousing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor fieldframe and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the fieldand armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switchfor said motor within said enclosure, a fan on said armature shaftinside said enclosure for circulating air within said enclosure and oversaid motor field and armature and said controlling switch, and switchactuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism having means for operatingit outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

MORTON B. CURLEY. JAMES KILBOURNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,897 Burgess Aug. 27, 19291,864,277 Tucker et al. June 21, 1932 1,932,231 Schmidt Oct. 24, 19332,040,188 Smellie May 12, 1936 2,294,586 Troller Sept. 1, 1942 2,323,456Curley et a1. July 6, 1943

